My passion for Cornwall - Free2Read

ISLES OF SCILLYThe Island Hotel on Tresco is also a licensed venue.In addition, Scilly provides the little extras that makeyour romantic get-away even more special, including:photographs, spas, flowers, hairdressing, transport,music and great food.Your wedding and the Isles of Scilly - a match madein heaven.For those not planning to get married on the islands,there’s load to do and it’s so easy to get there. The Islesof Scilly are only 15 minutes away by air.Such a short trip means you can pop over and back ina day or stay longer to get the most out of these idylliclittle islands, just 28 miles off the Cornish coast andLand’s End.The main island is St Mary’s and it is shielded fromthe Atlantic by the satellite islands of St Martin’s, Tresco,Bryher and St Agnes.The five inhabited islands have a population ofabout 2,000, but there are many smaller uninhabitedislands and rocky islets scattered around.Activities for the visitor include sailing, canoeing,windsurfing, horse riding by the sea, painting, wildlifetours, archaeology walks, sea fishing, photography,coastal walking, cycling, diving with seals and boat tripsto uninhabited islands.The islands’ maritime microclimate makes it a havenfor unusual flora and fauna. Frost and snow rarelyoccur, which enables gardeners to import exotic speciesfrom all over the globe, making the average walk inthe islands a voyage of discovery past plants from theCanaries, South Africa, South America, Australia andNew Zealand.The seas around the Scillies offer a home to awonderfully diverse range of creatures including seals,dolphins, basking sharks, starfish and more exoticvisitors like whales, sunfish and leatherback turtles.HOW TO GET THERECornwall’s longest serving airlineSkybus “the Islands’ own airline”,celebrates 25 years service. Whenyou fly with Skybus you will getbird’s eye views of the South West,and as you approach the islandsyour first dramatic glimpse of theisles will take your breath away.Flights only take 15 minutesand you can fly from Newquay orLand’s End.A daily helicopter service toSt Mary’s and Tresco operatesMonday to Saturday fromPenzance (20 mins).If you don’t fancy flying takethe ferry from Penzance. TheScillonian III departs daily duringthe summer season and althoughit takes two hours 40 minutes,it’s a great way to travel – there’splenty to do on board and it’s agreat way to see the Cornish coastfrom out at sea as you leave. Youmight also be lucky enough tocatch sight of some dolphins orseals on your journey.Discover the beautifulIsles of Scillyescape for the day or stay a whileCruise from Penzance or Fly from Land’s End • Newquay • Exeter • Bristol • SouthamptonCall 0845 710 5555 or visit www.ios-travel.co.uk IOSTravel Isles of Scilly TravelATOL exempt48discover the extraordinaryCornwall Tourism Magazine in association with www.cornwalltouristpass.com